By Angela Quintal
Seven years after resigning as the IFP's secretary-general, the hugely popular Ziba Jiyane made a triumphant return with a landslide win to depose Lionel Mtshali as the national chairperson.
The defeat was yet another blow for former KwaZulu-Natal premier Mtshali, who admitted to having had a "horrible year".
Chants of "Jiba, Jiba, Jiba" filled the hall when the announcement was made, and the crowd surged forward to move Jiyane to the stage.
While champagne corks were popping and banners unfurling, Mtshali cast a lonely and forlorn figure as he stood to one side, watching the excitement around the new chairperson.
There were 917 votes for Jiyane and 329 for Mtshali, with six spoiled votes.
Earlier, as it became clear that a defeat was imminent, Mtshali admitted that it had been his most horrible year: "A most difficult time, if it were not for my very deep Christian commitments, I don't know how I would have survived.
"It would be very sad if I was beaten by someone who had not lifted a finger during our election campaign - not in 1999, 2000 or 2004," he said.
He had expected a challenge in the light of poison pen letters sent to party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, saying they were "scurrilous".
"It's unfortunate that after working so hard and making so many sacrifices with my family, that I face a possible election defeat.
"Be that as it may, that is democracy. I will remain in the party - I am not in the IFP because of Jiyane. I will carry on working within the party.
As expected party faithful unanimously elected life-long IFP leader Buthelezi as party leader unopposed for another five-year term, while Musa Zondi was also elected unopposed to the new politically powerful post of secretary-general.
Both men had been nominated by the party's national council, but also had clear support from all the delegates present.
Earlier the 75-year-old Buthelezi said his nomination should not stop anyone from contesting the position if they so wished, to laughter from delegates who appreciated that no one would dare contest the post, nor would they want to as long as Shenge was alive.
However, with the conference aimed at renewal and modernisation, there was a new mood among delegates. They were finally free to elect the leaders they chose as a new democracy took hold of the party.
In addition to Jiyane, delegates also put up candidates to challenge the IFP's national council nominees for deputy national chairman, Zanele Magwaza, and deputy secretary-general, Prof Themba Msimang.
A challenge to Msimang failed after the proposed challenger Victor Habedi, was not present to sign the acceptance form.
Former Ladysmith mayor Stanley Dladla opposed Magwaza.
However, the man of the moment was clearly Jiyane, effectively deposed in 1997, after his popularity was seen as a threat to Buthelezi.
Jiyane made a low-key entrance to the huge marquee where the party faithful at the Emandleni-Matleng centre had gathered to hear Buthelezi address the annual general conference.
Behind the scenes, his supporters - including the youth who for years have wanted a succession plan were campaigning vigorously for their man. Posters exhorting IFP delegates to vote for Jiyane plastered some cars and were handed out to delegates.
Jiyane's presence showed that some in the party were taking the call to for internal democratisation and renewal seriously.
A party insider said before the election that if Jiyane trounced Mtshali it would be an indication that the IFP membership "was serious about modernisation" and would "go some way to reconciling the divisions within the party".
While Mtshali had the backing of Buthelezi, his authoritarian streak alienated many within the IFP. He is alleged not to have consulted his provincial caucus and assigned posts to IFP MPPs in a dictatorial manner. He is seen as part of the old-guard.
While Mtshali was hailed by Buthelezi as the only premier to have stood up to President Thabo Mbeki, he lacked the vocal support of Jiyane.
Jiyane was backed by the IFP's eThekwini region in particular.
Saturday's election was held by secret ballot. Party delegates cast their ballots to loud music, including Gloria Gaynor's I will survive.
Speaking ahead of the election, Jiyane said: "Personally I was not ready to come back, but one thing changed my mind. I thought maybe two years from now I would consider it, but they said if I come back two years from now, there may no longer be the IFP I know.
"I asked myself whether I wanted that type of outcome and I don't." However, Jiyane said he did not want it to appear that he was accepting nomination because he wanted to save the IFP.
Emphasising it was his personal view, Jiyane said he believed there was a need for the IFP to continue to uphold moral values and to co-operate with the ANC and other parties. on the question of socio-economic transformation.
"On questions of morality I think the ANC has serious shortcomings and Aids which is the biggest challenge facing the country - in my view - is a question of morality."
On the biggest challenges facing the IFP, Jiyane said: "I would not like to pre-empt discussions. I don't want to look as the know all."
Jiyane's popularity in the party in the 1990s almost rivalled Buthelezi, with speculation then that if anyone was likely to succeed the IFP leader, Jiyane would be the man.
He was subsequently deposed. IFP members spoke of an incident when Buthelezi heard that Jiyane had been mobbed by supporters at a local shopping mall in Durban.
Buthelezi later told an IFP national council meeting that there were those who believed they were more popular than he. Soon after, Jiyane, quit politics.
Asked about calls for a succession plan for the party, Jiyane said: "The IFP's strength is its solid traditional support. The challenge now is to build from a solid base like that. We are glad the Buthelezi still has the fire to go on and be part of this rejuvenation which makes the party more appealing."